Constitution of AUPHF

(amended at the AGM 1997)

1. Name of the Association

The Association shall be known as the Association of University Professors and Heads of French in Universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland (short form AUPHF).

2. Aims of the Association

to further the mutual professional aims and interests of University Departments of French (or French sections in Schools or Departments of Modern Languages) in the United Kingdom and Ireland;
to establish common policy as far as possible on matters relating to research and teaching in French Studies in the university sector, and to promote such policies;
to act as a representative professional body able to communicate formally the views of members of the Association to other professional bodies, to relevant institutions and agencies of Government, and to other appropriate agencies and bodies;
to nominate members to represent the Association’s interest on other national bodies;
to act in a liaison capacity with representatives of the French cultural and diplomatic services on matters of mutual interest.

3. Membership

Membership of the Association is open to:

(i) Holders of personal/statutory chairs in universities in the UK and Ireland whose principal research and teaching interests are in the field of French;

(ii) Non-professorial Heads/Chairs of French in universities in the UK and Ireland;

(iii) Heads of Modern Languages and Heads/Directors of Language Centres whose main research and teaching responsibility is in the field of French;

(iv) The nominees of Heads/Chairs of Departments or Schools of Modern Languages who are not themselves French specialists. The nominee should normally be the administrative Head of the French Section.
Honorary Membership of the Association is open to retired members of the Association holding the titular rank of Professor, who on retirement were paid-up members of the Association and who notify the Secretary of their wish to be registered as members in this category. (Honorary Membership does not carry voting rights. Honorary Members will receive copies of AGM Minutes but will not normally receive any other circulated documents. Honorary Members do not pay a subscription.)
Associate or Visiting Professors of French in universities in the UK and Ireland are excluded from membership.

4. Affiliation

The AUPHF may accept affiliation by or to other associations as appropriate.

5. Meetings

There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Association, which shall have authority to determine any matters concerning the activity of the Association. Special Meetings of the Association may be called by the President, either on his/her own authority or on receipt of a written request signed by at least twelve members of the Association.

6. Subscription

Membership is conditional on payment of the annual subscription, which falls due at the Annual General Meeting. The amount of the subscription shall be decided by the membership at the AGM.

7. Accounts

An annual Statement of the accounts shall be presented to the AGM. The Executive Committee will nominate two auditors among the members, one of whom will not normally be a member of the current Committee.

8. Executive Committee

The Committee shall consist of the following Officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary.
Each affiliated association may nominate one Representative Member to serve on the Committee.
There shall be six elected Ordinary Members.
The Committee shall be empowered to co-opt not more than two additional members, who shall have voting rights.
All Officers shall serve for three years. The office of Vice-President shall normally be held by the Immediate Past President for a maximum period of three years. An election to this office shall be held in the event of the post falling vacant. An elected Vice-President shall serve for three years.
Ordinary Members shall serve for a period of three years and not normally be eligible for re-election until a period of one year has elapsed from the terminating date of previous membership. Normally two members shall retire annually from the Committee.
Co-opted members shall serve for a period of up to one year (ending at the next AGM).
Elections for Officers and Ordinary Members shall be by paper ballot at the AGM. Nominations (to be supported by a proposer and seconder) shall be solicited by the Secretary four weeks in advance of the AGM, to be in the Secretary’s hands before the start of the meeting.
The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the members of the Association for the management of its affairs and the implementation and furtherance of Association policies. It shall report as appropriate to members and annually to the AGM.
The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice yearly. Meetings shall be called by the President, on his/her own authority or on receipt of a written request signed by at least four Committee members.
The Executive Committee may at its discretion submit proposals and issues to a postal ballot of members. The results of such ballots will be determined by a simple majority of members voting.

9. Amendments to the Constitution

Proposals to amend the Constitution shall be notified to members of the Association not less than four weeks before an AGM. Proposals may be presented by the Executive Committee or by a motion lodged with the Secretary at least two months prior to the date of the AGM and signed by at least twelve members of the Association.
A motion to amend the Constitution shall be approved if supported by at least two thirds of the votes cast at the AGM.

10. Dissolution of the Association

Any proposal to dissolve the Association shall be notified to members of the Association not less than four weeks before an AGM. Proposals may be presented by the Executive Committee or by a motion lodged with the Secretary at least two months prior to the date of the AGM and signed by at least twenty members of the Association. A motion to dissolve the Association shall be approved if supported by at least two thirds of the votes cast at the AGM. In the event of members deciding to dissolve the Association, the AGM shall elect a Residual Executive of five members to oversee the conclusion of outstanding business and the return to members of any remaining assets.

Association of University Professors and Heads of French

Rules for the conduct of ballots

It is proposed that the following should be added to Rule 7k which gives the Executive the power to conduct ballots at its discretion:

For nominations to RAE panels and similar bodies, the following procedure shall apply:

The Executive shall determine the categories for which nominations are to be sought.

Any paid-up member of the Association may stand for such a vacancy, provided his/her nomination is signed by a proposer and seconder who are also paid-up members. Nominees must also give their written consent to their nomination.

All paid-up members may vote in the ballot.

The President shall, in conjunction with the Treasurer, establish a list of those entitled to vote.

A Returning Officer shall be nominated by the Executive. S/he shall send each voter a postal ballot paper allowing a minimum of ten working days for the return thereof. Votes shall be cast anonymously.

In counting the votes cast, the principle of simple majority shall apply, except if there are more than two nominations for any one vacancy. In this case the single transferable vote will be used, and voters will be asked to number the candidates in order of preference.

The Returning Officer shall announce the result in writing to all voters. There is no appeal against such notice.